Package-filling machine.



K. GAMMEL. PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1912.

1,222, 199. Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l- IIlIIIIlIIIIIIIIIlIl/l 1011,,

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIII mwwww m: vvmmls PEI-Ens c0. PHOTO-LUNG" msmmnml u c.

K. GAMMEL. PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 1912.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WW: 8mm.-

In! mmm "EYE/IL w. mom mm; wnmmmm. o p

K. GAMMEL.

PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE.

APPIICATION FILED MAY 24, I912. 1,222,199. Patented Apr. 10,1917.

Mm \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Y K. GAMMEL.

" PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 1912.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

III-III WW: 5mm:

M @2257; JWMWMWW K. GAMMEL. PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY24. I9l2.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

r L iwi Q. mm. N Q a N hww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL GAMMEL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND MACARONI COMPANY,

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PACKAGE-FILLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

Application filed May 24, 1912. Serial No. 699,488.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL GAMMEL, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Package- Filling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to package filling machines and has for its object the devising of means whereby packages may be filled with the required weight of the intended goods with a minimum amount of handling, on the part of the operator of the machines.

A further object of my invention is to provide a machine, continuous in its operation, wherein goods to be packed are weighed out in the desired amount and by a continuous process, are transferred to the package, which is then carried to a suitable place where it is removed from the machine and further disposed of as desired, as for instance, by transferring it to a moving platform where it may be carried to a convenient place for sealing or for otherwise handling it.

The various other objects of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following description of one form of mechanism embodying the invention which consists in the new and novel feature of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the machine with some of the parts shown in full and showing the filling and emptying positions of the scales.

Fig. 9 is a plan with many of the parts removed, others shown in section, and others partly broken away showing principally the table and cams.

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental view of the left hand portion of Fig. 1 showing the parts in positions for removing the goods.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental view of the extreme right hand portion of Fig. 1 showing the parts in positions for weighing the goods.

Fig. 5 is a plan of a fragment of the machine comprised in the right hand portion of Fig. 1 and showing parts that were omitted in Fig. 2 in four different positions and,

Fig. 6 is a detailed central sectional view of the scale pan.

It will be apparent from the following description that the machine may be used for weighing and packing a large variety of goods. The machine is especially designed however, for weighing and packing such edibles as macaroni and similar products. Such goods are placed in the scale pans, comprised in the machine, in approximately correct quantities. For instance the goods may be measured by dry measure in approximately the desired amounts by any suitable means (not shown) and then placed in the scale pan. The scale readings indicate preferably, the number of pieces of macaroni or other goods required to be added or taken away to obtain the correct quantity.

The above illustrates one use the machine may be put to, but as before remarked its application is more or less general, and in most cases it is preferable that the scale be graduated to indicate weight instead of as above described, which latter graduations are only suitable where the goods packed are made up of substantially uniform pieces. Other than this the machine will require only such change, to adapt it for use with the various articles desired to be packed, as are within the scope of my invention.

The machine comprises a table 1 rotatably mounted upon a vertical shaft 2 through a hub 3 of suitable length and supported as through ball bearings 4; by the suitably constructed stand 5, into which is rigidly secured the shaft 2. The table is revolved by any convenient means, as the worm 6 and gear 7 A plurality of frames 8 are secured to the table as by clamps 9 and lock pins 10.

A scale is mounted upon each of these frames. A preferred type whereby the goods may be readily weighed and removed to the package, comprises a chute through which the goods are passed, an opening and closing end for the exit of'the goods, an op posite opening and closing end for the admission of the removing means, and means for covering the pan and for holding it rigid during the removing period.

The scales comprise a pair of balance beams 11-11 secured in spaced relation by bars 12 and bolts 13 to form a frame. This is fulcrumed to the frame 8 by means of knife bearings 14- supported by lugs 15. The two ends of the balance frame are pivotally connected to vertical frames; the outer frame being comprised of vertical bars 16 straddling the frame 8 and secured in spaced relation by fastenings at either end, and the inner frame being comprised of bars 17l. and other bars 18 18 secured in spaced relation by suitable fastenings at top, bottom, and intermediate positions thereof. he inner bars 17 extend upwardly and have secured thereon a support 19 for holding such weights (not shown) as may be found necessary to counterbalance the weight the goods being weighed. @ther weights are suitably mounted on pins projeeti g from the bars 17 to afford additional means for counterbalancing the goods weighed. The vertical frames are suspended from the ends of the balance frame by knife bearings 21 and 22 in the usual manner. They are weighted below their point of suspension, by weights 23, and maintained in vertical positions by links 24 pivotally connected to the ends of the frames and to the frame 8.

The scale pan 25 is rigidly secured to the upper ends of the bars 16, and for the particular purposes of the present construction is of a comparatively long trough shaped formation, and directed radially to facilitate the removal of the contents by the mechanism later to be described. During this period of transfer the scale pan is brought in contact with posts 26, upstanding from the frame 8 by means of pi e 27 secured on a. swinging arm 28 pivotally mounted on lugs 29 formed on the frames 8. The ends 30 of the scale pan are made removable through slots in the base thereof. They are supported .on arms 31 pivotally secured to the sides of the scale pan, and have branch arms 32 crossing in the path of the pins 27 to be struck by them in their downward movement to lower the ends 30, thereby leaving the pan free for the admission of the removing means the inner end and the removal of the goods at the outer end.

After the pins :27 have opened the ends of the pan they seat in the depressions formed in the sides of the pan and hole it firmly upon the posts 26. The arm is further provided with a plate 34- which enters the scale pan on its dowi vard move. ment, and serves as a cover therefor to facilitate the removal of the goods. The return of the ends 30 occurs automatically upon the raising of the arm 5'8 by means of springs 35 secured at one end to the respective arms 31 and anchored at their other ends to the scale pan.

A scale 36 is formed on an edge of the plate 34 which serves when in vertical position to indicate the amount of goods in the pan, although it is obvious that a permanent scale could be provided if desired. An indicator lever 37 is pivotally mounted on an arm 38 ri idly secured to the lug it One end of the lever is engaged by a pin 31' projecting from the adjacent ba 1? in its upward movement. The other end of the lever is arranged to pass over the scale 36 to indicate the weight of the goods in the scale pan, and is returnable to normal posi tion by the depended weight 40.

The arm 28 is reciprocated through its quarter revolution of motion from the vertical to the horizontal as shown by the broken are in Fig. 4, by means of a rod 411, pivo ally connected at its outer end within the bifurcated rear end of the arm and secured at its inner end to the slide bar loosel i, engaged in a groove formed in a drum 4:3

supported rotatably upon the shaft by collar 44-. The bar 42 is reciprecatec to the arm 28 by means of a cam 45 fixedly mounted on the shaft and engaging cam roller l6 rotatable on the bar 28 is positively lowered by this mechanism and is raised by a tension spring 4-7 secured at one end to the arm and at the other end to the drum, which also serves to retain the cam and roller in continuous engagement.

The drum i3 is rigidly secured to frames 8 by means of the tubular lial tier 48 whereby the drum revolved with the revolving table.

The goods are removed from the scale pan by means of a plunger secured to the outer end of the bar 50 which passes through the lug 29 and has secured to its inner end the head 51 adapted to reciprocate in the tubes 48. The plunger is reciprocated by means of an arm 52 pivoted at its lower end in brackets 53 secured to the base of the table, and having a slotted upper end for engaging roller 5-11: rotatably pinned in a slot formed in head 51. The arm 52 is posi tively moved outward to transfer the goods from the scale pan by means of cam fined on the shaft and a cam roller 5(3 secured on the arm. The plunger is returned to inactive position by means of tension spring 57 secured at one end to the r l 52 and the other end to hub 3 thro intervention of disk 58 secured thereto. ac spring at the same time serves to maintain the cam and roller in continuous engage- I ment.

The outer end of the scale pan is provided 59 over with a yielding chute or sleeve which the mouth of the paclra dotted lines at 60 is passed. is supported upon a swinging s pivotally secured to an extension on frame 8. The support is fern erably of the three sides 63,

62 f aed land or) which serve to hold the package while being filled pref- The arm and while being lowered. The rais"ig and lowering the support is accompli bed by means of a connecting rod pivotaliy connected to the support at one end and at the other end to arms 67 depending from slide bar 4(2 whereby the support is raised as the arm 28 is lowered and is lowered as the arm 28 is raised. The side 63 of the support 61 is provided with apertures (58 which registe'r with pins 69 extending from the front of the frames 10 as the support is lowered, whereby the filled package carried by the support is arrested and the support permitted to move free therefrom. The pack age then drops upon an endless belt 70 or other suitable conveyer, and is moved along where it can be sealed or otherwise handled as desired.

The cams l5 and 55 have their extended faces on the same side of the shaft in order that the operation of the different parts will be properly timed. The extended face 71 on the cam a5 is longer and begins in advance of the extended face 72 on the cam 55. This enables the scale pan to be closed at the top, the ends removed and the package supporter raised before t e goods removing plunger begins to operate.

Fig. 2 shows different positions of the cam rollers as they are traveling over their re spective cam surfaces. Fig. 5 shows four sections of the device in difierent positions of their travel over the extended surface 71. The lowermost section shows the parts as represented in Fig. 4 and the right hand Side of Fig. 1, while the uppermost section shows the parts in the position corresponding to Fig. 3 and the left hand side of Fig.1.

he above description has been confined to one section, but the other sections differ in nowise therefrom. Twenty-four of these sections are used in the present construction but the number may be varied as desired.

The operation of the machine is simple. The cams being stationary and the table continuously revolving, the parts will be as shown to the right in Fig. 1 for the greater part of the revolution. This gives the operator ampl opportunity to fill the scales with the required amount of goods and to slip the packages upon the sleeve or chute at the front of the scale pan. This must of course be completed before the cam rollers reach the extensions on the cam. Nhen this engagement begins the weighing has been completed and the particular section is in the neighborhood of the conveyor "elt. Here the package supporter comes under the package to support it, the top or cover to the scale pan comes down to cover it and to remove the ends of the pan. After this is done the plunger passes through the pan and forces the contents into the package. The cam wheels then continue on the other side of their cam extensions and the parts brought thereby to their first positions, the pan being then ready for a new charge. The lowering of the package supporter to its first position causes the projecting pins to hold the package in check and when the supporter has moved away, to permit the package to drop upon carried away for sealing and etc.

It can be seen from the above'that the machine is continuous in its operation and requires the minimum amount of handling of the goods intended to be packed. Although I have shown only one form of mechanism embodying my invention, it is obvious that various changes within the skill of the mechanic may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, provided the means set forth in the following claims are employed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A package filling machine comprising a receptacle to contain the goods to be packed, a pivoted package supporter having periodic movement to and from the receptacle, means for ejecting the goods from the receptacle into the supported package and means for ejecting the package from the sup porter when said supporter is moved away from the receptacle.

2. A package filling machine comprising a receptacle for containing the goods to be packed, a pivoted package supporter, means for swinging the package supporter vertically to for transferring the goods from the receptacle to the supported package when the latter is brought to the receptacle, the bottom of said supporter adapted to form a prolongation of the bottom of the receptacle when in package transferring position and means for engaging the package wien the supporter is removed from its package transferring position to eject the package from the supporter.

3. A package filling machine comprising a receptacle for containing the goods to be packed, a pivoted package supporter, means for swinging the package supporter to and from the receptacle, means for transferring the goods from the receptacle to the sup ported package when the latter is brought to the receptacle, and means disposed in the line of movement of the supporter for removing the package from the supporter when moved from the receptacle.

4. A package filling machine comprising a receptacle for the goods, removable ends and cover for the receptacle, means for moving the ends into an inoperative position, and means cooperatively actuated from said last named means for removing the goods from the receptacle when the cover is moved to the receptacle and the ends away.

5. A package filling machine comprising the endless belt, to be and from the receptacle, and means CJK a receptacle for the goods, removable end walls for the receptacle, means for removing the goods through one end of the receptacle, said means entering through the other end when the end Walls removed and mechanism operatively connected to said end Walls and to said removing means for periodically actuating the same unison.

6. in a package filling machine, a recep tacle for the goods having fixed side Walls, removable end Walls and cover, means for moving the cover to and from the recep tacle, means aliixed to the cover for openin the end alls, and means entering one opened end for removing the goods :r'i'oui other opened end. i. A package filling i rachine comprising a receptacle having side walls to confine the goods, removable end Walls and cover for the receptacle, means for automatically opening and positively closing the cover, means carried by the cover for automatically closin and positively opening the end Walls and a positively advanced and automatically retreated remover for the goods entering the receptacle at one opened end for expelling the goods from the other end,

8. A package filling machine comprising a rotatable table, a plurality of receptacles on said table for the goods to be packed, a plurality of package holding sleeves, one for each receptacle operatively disposed relative to its receptacle to support a package 7 in position to receive the contents of the receptacle, and a plurality of means one for each receptacle for removing the goods from the receptacles into the supported package at predetermined positions.

9. A package filling machine comprising a rotatable table, a plurality of horizontally disposed receptacles for the goods on the table, means for holding the receptacles rigid at a predetermined position, a plurality of horizontallymovable plungers, one for each receptacle for simultaneously removing the goods from the receptacles at said position and means for conveying the goods away from the receptacle.

10. A package filling machine comprising a rotatable table, a receptacle to retain the goods to be pack d, means operable-at a and position for holding the receptacle rigid, package supporter movable to and from the receptacle, means for noving the package supporter to the receptacle at the said fixed position, means for removing the goods from the receptacle to the supported acl-:age at said fixed position, and means for removing the package from the supporter When moved from the receptacle.

11. in package filling machine comprising a rotatable table, a receptacle for contain ing the goods to be packed, a package supporter movable to and from the receptacle,

e ecting a chute at the outer end of the receptacle for receiving the mouth of the package, removable ends for the receptacle, a removable cover for the receptacle, means for positively opening and automatically closing the ends, means secured to move with the cover operate the first means to open the ends and hold the receptacle rigid when the cover closes, a fixed cam, means operated by the cam for closing the receptacle cover and moving the package supporter to the receptacle at a fixed position in the travel of the table, automatic means for simultaneously opening the cover and mo ing the packa e suppo er from the receptacle, means remo 'ng the package from the supporter when moved from the receptacle, a plunger for removing the goods from th receptacle to the package when the ends or the receptacle are removed to permit the plunger to enter the inner end and the goods the outer end, fixed cam, a leveroperated by the cam for moving the plunger outwardly at the said predetermined position to remove the goods, and automatic means for returning the plunger. 12. A package filling machine comprising a table, means for revolving the table, a plurality of receptacles on the table, removable ends and cover for each receptacle, a package supporter for each receptacle, cam mechanism operating the ends, cover and supporter, a goods remover for each receptacle and cam mechanism for operating the removers.

13. in a device of the class described, the combination of a stand, a shaft fixed to said stand, a table rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for rotating said table, a plurality of frames secured to said table, a receptacle for the goods mounted on each of said frames, an ejecting mechanism including a lever for each of said receptacles,

means for successively moving said ejector mechanism into operative position relative to its respective receptacle to eject the goods thereli'rom, said means including a cam fixed to the shaft and successively acting on the lever of each receptacle as it moves into position opposite the cam and a coil spring engaging the portion or" the lever adjhcent the cam for holding the same in operative engagement With the cam. A

14. in a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft, a table rota-tablv mounted on said shaft, means for rotating said table, ejecting mechanism including an arm, an ejecting plunger actuated thereby and mounted on said table, means for moving said ejecting mechanism in one direction, said means including a fixed cam mounted on said shaft and successively acting on said ejec ing arm as it moves into position opposite the cam and spring actuated means for returning said ejecting mechanism to its initial position after the cam has been passed.

15. In a device of the class lescribed, the combination of a shaft, a table rotatably mounted on said shaft, a plurality of receptacles mounted on said table about said g mechanism for each of .l ,r a cover for each of said repcratively connected with said nism to close the receptacle ds therefrom, resilient meal 1 anally holding said cover in open position and cam means for timing the actuation of said ejecting mechanism and for said. cover.

16. In a device of too class described, the combination of table mounted for rotary movement, a plurality of receptacles mounted on said table about the axis of rotation thereof, eject ng mechanism for forcing the goods from said receptacles, fixed means below the table adapted to be engaged by said ejecting mechanism as the receptacles are moved past the fixed means thereby to move said ejecting means into position to eject the goods from the receptacles at a definite point and resilient means for automatically returning said ejecting mechanism to inoperative position after the said point is passed.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination of a table mounted for rotary movement, a plurality of receptacles mounted on said table about the axis of rotation thereof, ejecting mechanism for forcing the goods from said receptacles covering mechanism for said receptacles, fixed means adapted to be en 'aged by said ejecting mechanism as the receptacles are moved past the fixed means thereby to move said ejecting means into position to eject the goods from the receptacles at a definite point, and simultaneously to close said covering mechanism and means at said point for receiving the ejected goods while the receptacle is closed.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination of a table mounted for rotary movement, a receptacle mounted on and movable with said table, an ejector movable through said receptacle to force the goods therefrom, a rocking arm having one end pivoted to said table and the other end engaging said ejector, a fixed cam adapted to be engaged by said arm in its revolving movement with said table to move the ejector through the receptacle and means for returning said ejector into an inoperative position relative to said receptacle.

said rece ceptaclos o five cent 19. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame, a receptacle mounted for vertical movement on said frame, an ejecting mechanism for forcing the goods from receptacle, locking means cooperatively connected with said ejecting mechanism for fastening the receptacle in fixed position to permit the actuation of the ejecting mecha uism.

20. In a devicb of the class described, the combination of a frame, a receptacle mounted for vertical movement in said frame, an ejecting mechanism for forcing the goods from said receptacle, locking means cooperaUively connected with said ejecting mechanism for fastening the receptacle in fixed position to permit the actuation of the ejecting mechanism, means for receiving the goods ejected from the receptacle, said means being operatively connected with the ejecting mechanism and with the locking means to be moved simultaneously therewith into positions to receive the goods as they are ejected from the locked receptacle.

21. In a device of the class described, the combination with a traveling belt, of a plurality of weighing devices movable toward and past said belt, said devices each including a receptacle to contain the weighted goods, ejecting mechanism for each of said weighing devices automatically actuated as the receptacles successively approach the belt, and locking means operatively actuated as the receptacles approach the belt for fastening the receptacles in position to permit the actuation of the ejecting mechanism relative thereto.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination with a traveling belt, of a plurality of Weighing devices movable toward and past said belt, said devices each including a receptacle to contain the weighted goods, ejecting mechanism for each of said *eighing devices automatically actuated as the receptacles successively approach the belt, and locking means operatively actuated as the receptacles approach the belt for fastoning the receptacles in position to permit the actuation of the ejecting mechanism rel ative thereto and periodically actuated means for carrying the goods ejected from the receptacles away from the same and for dropping the goods on to the belt.

This application. signed and witnessed this 20th day of May A. D., 1912.

KARL GAMMEL.

Witnesses:

E. M. HoLMoRnN, GRACE R. COLLAR.

s each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

